Review

Teremok Marine Lodge: Boutique, Must-Visit Accommodations in South Africa’s Umhlanga Rocks

It’s rare that we publish straight-up hotel reviews here on Vagabondish. But it’s not often that we find near-perfect accommodations either. Which is why South Africa’s Teremok Marine Lodge is well worth a mention (it’s clear that plenty of other travelers agree). I’ve been singing its praises to anyone and everyone since my stay in [...]

Travel Splurge: Sleeping with Presidents & Celebrities at Johannesburg’s Saxon Hotel

The driver wore a crisp, neatly pressed black suit and silk, powder blue tie – an ensemble far nicer than any I owned at home. I’d phoned requesting a transfer approximately thirty seconds ago. It was like he teleported to meet me at the train station. “Mr. Richard?” he asked. He shook my hand, flashed [...]

Icebreaker Men’s Seeker Shorts: Cotton Meets Merino Wool for Lightweight, Ultra-Comfortable Travelwear

We’ve repeatedly praised merino wool as the “Fabric of the Gods” for travelers (notably here and here). And with good reason: it’s lightweight, super-breathable, naturally odor resistant, itch-free (unlike regular wool), fast-drying, plus it stays cool in the heat and warm in the cold. What’s not to like? And no company we know of does [...]

eBags Mother Lode TLS Mini 21″ Wheeled Duffel: The Damn-Near-Perfect Carry-on

Frequent US travelers will appreciate the need to pack very light – from both a convenience and an economic standpoint. Sure, I occasionally need to go a bit bigger (shameless plug: on those occasions, I’m still a fan of eBags’ EXO Hardside Spinner which remains the best piece of checked luggage we’ve ever reviewed). But, [...]

Need Lightning Fast Visa or Passport Services? Check Out VisaHQ.com [Review]

If you travel long enough, you can appreciate the following scenario … You’re headed to [insert exotic destination here] next week. You’ve been looking forward to it for months and even started packing days in advance. Then a sudden realization: you’re all out of passport pages. Or your destination country suddenly changed their visa requirements [...]

BRAVEN BRV-1: Wireless, Weatherproof, Go-Anywhere Travel Speaker

We’ve previously reviewed Braven speakers – most notably last year when Modern Vagabonder Robert Evans beat the bajeezus out of his Braven 625s, concluding simply: “I can’t kill it.” Now, the company’s upping the ante with the all new BRV-1 Wireless HD Speaker/Speakerphone/Phone Charger. They sent us one to gawk over and here’s what we [...]

Drift HD Ghost: Waterproof, Wearable Action Camera [Review]

The wearable video cam market has exploded in the last few years. Whether you’re rafting the Colorado River, kayaking off the shores of Hawaii, hiking Kili, or … anywhere doing anything remotely interesting, you can now record it to share with the world. Drift Innovations has jumped feet first into the mix with the Drift [...]

ECBC Hercules Backpack: Slim, Rugged Carry-All for the Modern Traveler

We’ve really been digging ECBC’s lineup of backpacks lately. We even ranked the company’s Javelin Daypack among our Holiday Gear Guide 2012: 25 Picks for the Best Travel Gear of the Year. And with good reason: their bags are lightweight, rugged, water-resistant, and very well designed. It’s clear that much thought goes into the layout [...]

Phiaton MS 400 Moderna Series Premium Headphones

We review a ton of headphones here at Vagabondish and frankly every pair starts to look a little too much like the one before it. Which is why we love how much Phiaton’s new flagship MS 400 Moderna Series Premium Headphones stand out.

IMEGO’s Throne Gold Headphones: Comfortable … But Not Much Else

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been testing out the new Throne Gold headphones from IMEGO. Out of the box, these big over-ear phones are an attractive, brassy hue and feel solid in your hands. While I wouldn’t bet on them being as sturdy as, say, any of V-MODA’s offerings, they’re certainly more durable [...]

Triple Aught Design Legionnaire Pant: Travel Pants for the Sexy (But Adventurous) Traveler

Today’s modern vagabond packs nothing more than s/he needs: gear that performs double duty, multi-function gadgets, and clothing that works in (nearly) any situation. We’ve already gushed about Triple Aught Design’s Praetorian Hoodie (week 2 by the way, and I’m still loathe to take it off except sometimes in the shower), concluding that “it’s the [...]

Triple Aught Design Praetorian Hoodie: Perfect for the Active Traveler

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a little obsessed with hoodies. I’d wear them in the shower if only I could find one that dries fast enough. So when San Francisco-based Triple Aught Design offered to send me a sample of their premium Praetorian Hoodie for review, I jumped at the chance.

EcoxGear’s EcoxBT Portable Speaker Can Survive Axe Blows, Water

If a company brags that their product is waterproof and “rugged”, that’s basically a challenge for reviewers like me to murder the hell out of it. When I reviewed Braven’s 625S Bluetooth speakers, chucking them onto concrete was enough. If EcoxGear’s EcoxBT portable/ruggedized speaker was going to impress me, it would need to survive a [...]

Bracketron’s Universal Travel Power Kit: Breakable, But Indispensable

Cords are a significant annoyance for most gadget lovers, but they’re even worse for those afflicted with twin lusts for technology and travel. The sight of a mass of tangled cords lying in the bottom of your backpack, partly merged with your headphones and a few odd lengths of rope, can be enough to make [...]

Sea to Summit: Latest Product Line Protects All Your Travel Gear

We’re longtime fans of Sea to Summit travel and outdoor gear. For years, they’ve striven to “create truly ingenious, well-made but affordable outdoor equipment”. And that they do – I’ve personally championed their storage sacks as absolutely essential when I travel. You might say “we celebrate their entire catalog”. This year, they introduced several all [...]

Seido’s 3800 mAH Extended Battery: Never Stop Surfing

In the land of long flights with no power outlets, the vagabond with the biggest battery is king. I rarely use my smartphone for more than occasional browsing and navigation. But on long flights it’s much more convenient for watching movies than a giant, clunky laptop. The only issue arrises on long flights – after [...]

KEEN Akita Boot High: Finding the Chupacabra of Women’s Travel Footwear

Savvy female travelers know one simple truth about packing: it’s all in the accessories. The right accents can take the same jeans and top from casual to trendy, the same dress from markets and museums to swanky restaurants and nightclubs, so you can pack fewer clothes but still be prepared for any situation. No accessory [...]

Carry Speed DS-SLIM: The Best Camera Strap We’ve Ever Tested

For many budding travel photographers, digital camera accessories can seem like an unnecessary luxury. This is especially true of “fancy” add-ons like lens hoods and even camera straps. I admit to feeling much the same way. But after checking out CarrySpeed.com‘s solid line of accessories, I admit to changing my tune. They recently provided us [...]

Rhapsody Music App: Put 16 Million Songs in Your Pocket

In a few short years, we’ve moved away from a model where downloading tracks to your computer or mobile device was the method of delivery. Next step: subscription-based, all-you-can-eat streaming music services. While this model has been available for some time, only recently (with the introduction of lightning fast 4G cell speeds) has it started [...]

X-Doria Dash Case: Protect Your iPhone 5 in Style

With the release of the new iPhone 5 comes the inevitable flood of shiny new mobile accessories. Among our favorite manufacturers, X-Doria has released their latest Dash case. The 2-in-1 design features a perforated, impact resistant back panel to protect your phone from dings, scratches and drops. Available in five color options (including orange!), the [...]

Keep Looking »